Centre helps Chandigarh with remdesivir, tocilizumab

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has allocated a total of 960 vials of remdesivir and tocilizumab to the UT Administration and the PGI.

The city had been reportedly facing shortage of tocilizumab.

Chandigarh has been approved a quota of 100 vials of tocilizumab, received in donation from Roche.

A total of 200 vials have been allocated to the PGI, revealed an official communication between the ministry and the chairman and managing director of M/s HLL Lifecare Limited.

As for remdesvir, a total of 500 vials have been allocated to PGI, while 160 to the Administration.

Both remdesvir and tocilizumab are used in treating severe Covid patients.

“As per the orders, treating doctors have to write to the company and procure tocilizumab directly. The patient is not charged for the medicine. We have remdesivir in our stock. It can be purchased locally and we get it from the DHS office too,” a UT Health Department official said on condition of anonymity.

“At present, the UT has 1,600 vials of remdesvir. Tocilizumab is purchased as and when required. The dosage is two per patient,” said the official.

The ministry has directed Joint Secretaries/officers in-charge of institutions to get in touch with Sanjeev Gupta of HLL for immediate arrangement of essential medical supplies.

“They shall also ensure that these equipment are accounted for and put to use for the benefit of patients. A confirmation to this effect may kindly be sought from the Medical Superintendent of the hospital concerned and forwarded to Sanjeev Gupta for records of HLL,” read the communication.

Vials allocated

Chandigarh has been approved a quota of 100 vials of tocilizumab. A total of 200 vials have been allocated to the PGI. As for remdesvir, a total of 500 vials have been allocated to the PGI, while 160 to the UT Administration.